David Kerslake spoke to the press following the Gills' 2-1 win against Coventry City on Saturday.
Gillingham assistant manager David Kerslake was delighted to see Gillingham get back to winning ways on Saturday against Coventry City at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Kyel Reid had put Coventry ahead but a Max Ehmer header from a long-throw and Billy Knott’s first Gillingham goal saw the home side claim a vital three points in front of their home support.
Kerslake was impressed with the performances of Knott and Deji Oshilaja, and wants to use the victory as the start of a winning run for the Gills.
Kerslake on…getting the three points: “We’re nowhere near our best, football-wise, at the minute. However, once we grind a few teams down once or twice, the shackles will fall off the players, and we’ll play with a bit more freedom.
“The manager has a nice mix. It’s no good saying that it’s absolutely disastrous if we get beat, but he certainly made the team aware that we needed to get back to winning ways.
“The most important thing was the three points”.
Kerslake on…substitutions and fatigue: “Jacko [Ryan Jackson] just felt his hip-flexor a tad, which he has history of before, so we needed to get him before. Rory [Donnelly] had a really nasty kick and his ankle was swollen, and Josh [Wright] was a tactical decision.
“We believe that we have a really good group of players – a good mixture of youth and experience and so we can afford to rotate it around a bit.”
Kerslake on…Billy Knott and Deji Oshilaja: “I thought he [Billy Knott] was outstanding all game. He’s a terrific footballer, but he’s put in a shift and a half without the ball today, and he’s capped it off with a beautifully taken goal.
“I thought Deji [Oshilaja] was outstanding today – I thought he was our best player. They were big, strong and quick up front and he’s matched every inch of them. I thought they gave up at the end.”
Kerslake on…Stuart Nelson’s last-minute save: “One of the last things that the manager just said in the dressing room was that that was a three point save from [Stuart] Nelson.
“He’s done it throughout his career at Gillingham and he’ll do it again. He’s been outstanding whilst Bondy’s [Jonathan Bond] been in the team, the same enthusiastic professional in and around the training ground and he’s performed how we would have expected him to.
“He loves it here, he’s an immaculate professional and he deserves every credit that he gets today.”